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Family Friend Suspected Of Molesting 3 Young Girls

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SANTA ANA (AP) — Police say a Southern California man molested three young girls, the youngest only 5 years old.

Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna says investigators were called to a church in Orange after a 13-year-old girl told a counselor she had been molested by a family friend over the past three years during visits to the man’s Santa Ana home.

The Orange County Register says her 8-year-old and 5-year-old sisters were also victims.

Officers arrested 48-year-old Gary Gruber and he was booked Thursday for investigation of lewd and sexual acts with a child under 14 and threats of retaliation.

Bertagna says Gruber met the girls’ father about five years ago while they serving time in jail. They remained friends after release and Gruber was often called to baby sit the girls.